Slymmend is one of the oldest family names to come from the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from the baptismal name Soloman, an ancient font name. Patronymic surnames arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions.The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. In the religious naming tradition, which was developed later than the vernacular tradition, surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Slymmend family

The surname Slymmend was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Slymmend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Slymmend research.Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1474, 1574, 1623, 1629 and 1684 are included under the topic Early Slymmend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Slymmend Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Slymmend has undergone many spelling variations, including Sleeman, Slimon, Slimmon, Slimmen, Sleman, Slemon and many more.

Early Notables of the Slymmend family (pre 1700)

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Migration of the Slymmend family to the New World and Oceana

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Slymmend were among those contributors: Thomas Sleman who settled in St. Christopher in 1633; Henry Slemmon settled in Philadelphia in 1844; John Slemon settled in Philadelphia in 1852; William Slemmons arrived in New England in 1718.